Unverified images of massively overweight Billy Joe Saunders go viral

[maverick23]

To be fair, at some point or other, the likes of Canelo (twice), Golovkin (twice), Callum Smith, Lemieux, Khurtsidze, Andrade and Eubank Jr. have all previously either declined opportunities to face Saunders or expressed their disinterest in facing the Brit or withdrew from bouts that Billy Joe had signed-up for.

Saunders actually signed the contract to face GGG twice, but Gennadiy refused to take the bout on both occassions.

Canelo lobbied to become Saunders' mandatory challenger at 160lbs, but suddenly rejected the bout when the WBO agreed to GBP's request.

Saunders' even signed a two-fight deal with GBP, with the second fight to be against Canelo, but De La Hoya renegged on their agreement.

I could go one-and-on.

I'm not saying all these guys feared Saunders, but they all refused to face Billy Joe for one reason or another.

And you can't make somebody fight you if they don't want to.

I also think that Saunders’ was a bit injury prone, which led to inactivity.

It’s interesting that you say and it was reported that he’d signed to fight Golovkin (twice) and others but the opponents didn’t let the fights happen. I actually wonder what Billy Joe supposedly signed. Was it just a bout agreement with his own promoter (Warren) and then they couldn’t get the deal done with the commercially much bigger fighter?

There are videos of Tom Loeffler and Billy Joe Saunders both confirming the Brit had signed contracts with K2 to face GGG twice, but Golovkin (for whatever reason) refused to sign his side of the deal on both occassions.

And remember, back in the day, Tom Loeffler and K2 were GGG's promoter, not Billy's.

I'm not sure what the reasons for GGG declining those bouts were (perhaps they were legitimate, who knows?), but whatever the root cause, it proves that Billy Joe at least tried multiple times to engage in marquee bouts, but his rivals refrained from facing him.

And to be fair, this might sound controversial, but a win over Saunders would have been classed amongst GGG's top-four career victories to-date. And also would have unified all four major titles at middleweight.

I remember the talk of Billy Joe signing to fight Golovkin mid 2017 and then Golovkin fought Canelo instead a few months later. It may have happened another time too but that one seems fine to me.

I think Billy Joe wanted the big fights and left Warren to improve the chances of it happening but, other than a world title, he didn’t bring loads to the table. He only ever sold big tickets in the U.K. with a big name opponent (Eubank Jr), didn’t particularly have an exciting style and was a very difficult person to like given all of things he’s done outside of boxing.

[Enlightened-One]

Well it's possible GGG turned it down on money issues, it's not like he's bottling is it if that's the case.
Way Canelo easily went through BJS suggests the big names won't fear Saunders in terms of strength, BJS has one and a half game plans which isn't near enough at elite level.

You have to assume that GGG would have been adequately compensated, because K2 (Golovkin;s own promoter) initiated contract discussions on both occasions and Billy Joe agreed to the financial terms they stipulated.

I believe one of the occasions where the fight fell through was because K2 lost their funding for a bout that was supposed to be staged in Kazakhstan.

I can’t recall the precise details of the other occasion, but I think Saunders signed a contract to face Golovkin, a few months prior to Gennadiy’s fight against Canelo, but GBP threatened to withdraw their fighter from the bout if K2 didn’t cancel GGG’s contest against Saunders.

I read something like that too but it flew into the rumour pile due to lack of anything solid behind it.

It's your prerogative to regard Loeffler's words as idle gossip.

Like I keep saying over-and-over again, whatever the reasons for GGG declining those bouts were, regardless as to whether they were legitimate, it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Billy Joe at least tried multiple times to engage in marquee bouts, but his rivals refrained from facing him.

[Evander]

You have to assume that GGG would have been adequately compensated, because K2 (Golovkin;s own promoter) initiated contract discussions on both occasions and Billy Joe agreed to the financial terms they stipulated.

I believe one of the occasions where the fight fell through was because K2 lost their funding for a bout that was supposed to be staged in Kazakhstan.

I can’t recall the precise details of the other occasion, but I think Saunders signed a contract to face Golovkin, a few months prior to Gennadiy’s fight against Canelo, but GBP threatened to withdraw their fighter from the bout if K2 didn’t cancel GGG’s contest against Saunders.

I read something like that too but it flew into the rumour pile due to lack of anything solid behind it.

It's your prerogative to regard Loeffler's words as idle gossip.

I love boxing gossip man.
Same time, I have to draw the line between talk and fact to keep me level headed.
My takeaway at this point is BJS is looking for a big money fight, his record looks alright and he's starting to pitch himself.
Might want to lose a few pounds if that picture is legitimate.
Is that really him ?
It can't be surely.
If it's a wind up it's a good one.

[Enlightened-One]

I love boxing gossip man.
Same time, I have to draw the line between talk and fact to keep me level headed.

That's all well and good, but Loeffler discussed the Kazakhstan venue situation with iFL TV.

For the record, I'm not accusing GGG of being a coward or anything like that, because all I'm saying is that Saunders signed a contract that Golovkin didn't.

Gennadiy's reasons for his actions back then may be perfectly reasonable, who knows?

But I trust Loeffler's words, which endorses Billy Joe's claims.

My takeaway at this point is BJS is looking for a big money fight, his record looks alright and he's starting to pitch himself.

Agreed.

Might want to lose a few pounds if that picture is legitimate.
Is that really him ?
It can't be surely.
If it's a wind up it's a good one.

The photos could very well be legit, but if they are fake, then whoever produced them is pretty good at Photoshop (or whatever software they used).

[Evander]

I love boxing gossip man.
Same time, I have to draw the line between talk and fact to keep me level headed.

That's all well and good, but Loeffler discussed the Kazakhstan venue situation with iFL TV.

For the record, I'm not accusing GGG of being a coward or anything like that, because all I'm saying is that Saunders signed a contract that Golovkin didn't.

Gennadiy's reasons for his actions back then may be perfectly reasonable, who knows?

But I trust Loeffler's words, which endorses Billy Joe's claims.

My takeaway at this point is BJS is looking for a big money fight, his record looks alright and he's starting to pitch himself.

Agreed.

Might want to lose a few pounds if that picture is legitimate.
Is that really him ?
It can't be surely.
If it's a wind up it's a good one.

The photos could very well be legit, but if they are fake, then whoever produced them is pretty good at Photoshop (or whatever software they used).

It's your thread you tell us.
My money says it's not him on the right.

[Wales]

have bjs's career achievements been listed in this thread yet? cant see them anywhere

Alternative achievements…

Impersonating a police officer
Bullying a crack head
Throwing a chicken at deyontay wilder
Hitting a punchbag whilst saying this is what women deserve
Making a prank call to an airline resulting in the plane being grounded
Allegedly stabbing an 18 year old in the hand